Prevalence Of Sickle Haemoglobin And Glucose–6–Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Genes In The Populations Of North West And South West Provinces, Cameroon

Abstract

Hereditary disorders of erythrocytes are common in many areas of the world, including Cameroon Limited knowledge on the consequences of high incidences of sickle haemoglobin (HbS) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency genes in the Cameroons might have been responsible for the haemoglobin genotype mismatched marriages among the sickle heterozygotes and drug-induced anaemia among the G6PD deficient individuals ignorantly treated wth oxidant drugs having high redox potential. The situation therefore, informed the random screening of the populace of the North West and South West populatons of Cameroon for these genes wth a view not only to reveal their current incidences and level of interaction but also to educate the people onthe consequences of these genetic defects. Our results revealed the total incidences of 32.20 % sickle and 1161 % G6PD deficiency genes. The percentage frequency of the sickle cell gene was higher in the South western (1880 %) than in the North West (1451 %) populations. The percentage incidence o G6PD deficiency was 921 % and 120 % for males and females respectvely in the North West and 10.85 % and 1.46 % for males and females respectively in the South West. The interaction was not sgnificant (P > 0.01) between G6PD deficiency and HbS for the North West and South West populatons. These genetic defects must have reached polymorphiclevels due to natural selection through survival advantage against death from malaria and consanguineous marriages.

Keywords: Sickle cell gene, G6PD Deficiency gene, Prevalence, Cameroon

Animal Research International Vol. 3 (3) 2006 pp. 581-586